Things to Do in Dalian

Dalian is one of the largest port cities in northern China. Compared to the historic cities of china such as Beijing, Xian, Nanjing or Luoyang, Dalian is a young city with only a 100-year history. It is the trading and financial hub of the north-eastern China, rightly being given the title of 'Hong Kong of Northern China' and ‘The Pearl of Northern China’. The city is one of the most vibrant and romantic cities in the world, boasting numerous gardens, festivals and fairs, amusement parks, museums, biological reserves, mountains, beaches, islands, coastal reefs and scenic spots.

The city is alive and thriving, and the energy is contagious. One of the best ways to make the most of the fast-paced metropolis is to indulge in some of the best things to do in Dalian which include a plethora of natural sights and parks that take you a bit closer to nature and are sure to encapsulate with their beauty and charm, like Xinghai Square, Laohutan Scenic Park, Tiger Beach, Binhai Road Scenic Drive, Labor Park, Bangchuidao Island, Jinshitan Scenic Area, Dalian Coast National Geological Park, Jinlong Temple Forest Park, Xiangshui Temple and the Grand Black Mountain. The city has numerous entertainment and amusement opportunities to spend some quality leisure time like the Dalian Discovery Kingdom, Ocean Park, Ji Di Guan - Pole Aquarium, Sun Asia Ocean World and Polar World, Dalian Marine Science Museum and the Dalian Forest Zoo. The city offers several markets and shopping districts like Qingniwaqiao, Tianjinjie Pedestrian Street, Renmin Road and Xian Road, that cater to the shopaholics. The city is host to many annual festivals including Dalian Cherry Blossom Festival, Dalian Software Trade Fair, China International Beer Festival, Dalian Sand Beach Culture Festival and Dalian International Fashion Festival. Other top attractions in Dalian include Zhongshan Square, Dalian Natural History Museum, Haizhiyun Park Dalian, Jinlong Temple Forest Park and Lvshun Museum. The laid-back atmosphere and the scenic beauty makes a perfect setting explore the infinite sights, activities and attractions of Dalian.

Can't wait to discover Dalian by yourself? Create an itinerary for Dalian today! Ranked on popularity, here's the complete list of best Dalian attractions and point of interests recommended by the locals.

Dalian Discovery Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of discovery or Dalian Discovery land, is the newest amusement park located in Jinzhou District, Dalian. Spread over 4,70,000 square metres, the site was opened in 2006, and is currently the largest amusement park in the Liaoning province of Northeast China. The Discovery Kingdom is divided into 6...

Xinhai square is a city square at the southern beach area of the Dalian in Liaoning province of China. Spread over an area of 1.1 million square meters, it is the largest city square in the world. The central part of Xinghai square covers 45,000 square metres; it has a large white marble pillar, with a diameter of 1.997 meter, which depicts Hong Ko...

Laohutan Scenic park, also known as the Tiger Beach Ocean Park,is located in central part of the southern seashore of Dalian City. Covering an area of 1,180,000 square meters and a coastline of more than 4,000 meters, it is currently the biggest modern lido in China. You can witness many attractive natural sceneries and man-made sights inside the p...

The Dalian forest zoo, built in 1997, is an extensive animal kingdom located in the Xigang District. Covering an area of 7.2 square km, the zoo is famous for maintaining a balance between its themes of naturalness and wildness and the human and cultural factors. It is home to more than 3000 animals of 200 different species from all over the world. ...

The Ji Di Guan pole aquarium is a big aquarium ocean park with collections of polar bears, dolphins, sharks, penguins and many other types of animals, birds and fishes. All the ocean animals and plants, from corals to white whales all are kept in their natural habitat. Live shows of the marine animals at the site continue to attract visitors in lar...

The Tiger beach, located in the south coast region of Dalian, is one of the most popular scenic areas in the city. Spread over an area of 1.88 million square meters along a 4,000 meters coastline, it serves as a perfect holiday outing spot for friends and family of the region. The beach derives its name from the rock outcropping amidst the sea that...

The Sun Asia ocean world is an underwater amusement park, located in new Dalian. It is considered to be China’s first and World’s largest polar aquarium. The place has a wide range of both aquatic and terrestrial animals, divided into three main buildings: Ocean world, Polar world and coral world. All the three buildings can be distingu...

Zhongshan square in Dalian, also known as the ‘Nicholas square’, was originally built in the Russian colonial period. Around the square there are several classical buildings that were built between 1910-1920 by the Japanese. The place depicts a typical crossover of western styles with a variety of old European style buildings. The squar...

Xinghai Park is a seashore park located on the south-western side of Dalian city. It consists of a 1,50,000 square km garden and an arch-shaped bathing beach spread over 800 meters. The tranquil atmosphere that the park offers tends to attract numerous visitors from all over the region every year. The garden boasts of luxuriant trees, linked by cob...

Binhai road is the 32 kilometres long stretch beside the south seashore of Dalian city. The road was built in 1970’s for combat purposes and currently runs through 12 main sceneries along the coastline. The Binhai road stretch is considered to be one of the best roads to tour in the region, a drive on the road takes you through the sparkling ...

Dalian People square, formerly known as the Stalin Square, is located in the mountainous region of the city. Spread over an area of 1,25,000 square metres, it is home to the Dalian people’s government, the court and the police station. Most of the buildings around the square are built during the Russian and Japanese period. The square serves ...

Labor park, located in the heart of the city, covers an area of 5,60,000 square meters and is the biggest park in Dalian. The architecture at the site is a beautiful blend of the western style with the traditional Chinese style. The locals restored the park after the liberation took place around 100 years ago. A large lawn area with over 3,00,000 f...

Bangchuidao Island is located on the east of the Binhai road, 9 km from the downtown Dalian. The ginseng shaped island looks like a Bangchui – a wooden baton used as a washing tool by the ancient Chinese, and derives its name from that. The island is rich in natural heritage, with flourishing pine trees and cypresses densely planted along the...

Jinshitan Scenic Area and Bath, with a coastline of 30 kilometres, is located in Liaodang Peninsula, facing the Huanghai River. It has advanced Recreational infrastructures, with a golf course, 36 fairways and a hunting ground in the Western Peninsula. There are lot of scenic spots for the visitors that they can explore. Jinshitan Scenic Area was a...

The Xijang district is smallest of Dalian’s four districts, and is home to most of the city government offices. While the northern part of the district majorly consists of administrative offices, the southern half of the district offers forest zoo and beaches for the tourists. There is also a central market area for shopping enthusiasts.
The ...